Improvement in hooped skirts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. SHERWOOD, OF AOQUAOKANONOK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ALEXANDER DOUGLASS, OF ENGLISH NEIGHBORHOOD, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOPED SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,374, dated January 6, 18 63.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. SHERWOOD, of Acquackanonck, in the county of Passaio and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in HoopSkirts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this improvement is to secure in a cheap manner and simple form a certain and durable fastening for the attachment of the vertical tapes to the hoops. This object is accomplished by making the clasp of a piece of sheet metal which has a longitudinal slot in it, generally in the middle, though upon the lower hoop it is nearer to one edge. The tapes are passed through this slot or mortise after the clasp is partially formed, passed around the hoop and out again through the mortise, after which the said clasp is sprung down closely upon the hoop, which not only secures the tape from slipping longitudinally, but also at the same time prevents it from being slid on the hoop in the direction of the length of the latter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the fastening as it appears when attached to the hoops of the skirt, and the tapes secured thereby. Fig. 2 is a sideview of the plate of sheet metal from which the clasp is formed, it being punched out in shape and the mortise punched through it. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, representing the hoop and tape when fastened, the section being taken transversely in regard to the hoop. This section cuts through the mortise through which the tape passes. Fig. 4 is a like view, for showing the manner of clasping the tape to the lower hoop and the construction of the clasp for that purpose. Fig. 5 is a side view of the blank or plate of sheet metal punched out to form a fastening, it differing from Fig. 2 only in the omission of the projection at the end which is intended to fold over the ends of the upper hoops. Fig. 6 is a like view of a piece cut or punched to form a fastening to secure the tape to the lower hoop.

1, 2, and 5 are the clasps by which the tapes are secured to the hoops. 6 are the tapes. 7 are the hoops. The clasp 1 is formed of a piece of thin sheet metal punched outas shown in Fig. 5 and bent around the hoop somewhat in the form represented in Fig. 3. It has a mortise, 8, in the middle to receive the tape. The clasp is first partially formed, after being cut out, and then slipped upon the hoop. The end of the tape is passed through the slot or mortise 8, over and around the hoop, and returned again through the mortise. The clasp is then properly adjusted on the hoop and the tape properly adjusted in the clasp, when the clasp is sprung down snugly upon the hoop, and the fastening is finished. It holds very firmly, and effectually prevents both the slipping of the tape in the clasp and the slipping of the clasp upon the hoop. It does this partially by the short turns which it compels the tape to make, not only around the hoop, but also in extending up and down through the mortise, as represented, and par tially by compression of the clasp upon the tape and hoop.

In Fig. 2 the blank or plate of sheet metal to form the fastening is represented as being provided With a projection, 3, attached to the ends of the wings or side pieces, 4 4. This is represented formed and attached to the hoop at 5. The object of this piece is to protect the ends of the upper hoops where the skirt has been left open. If the bottom hoop were attached precisely as shown in Fig. 3, the point of suspension would have a tendency to turn. or cant the hoop on' account of the weight thereof being suspended at its side. To obviate this difficulty the mortise 8 is made near the edge of the plate, as shown in Fig.6, which represents the plate or blank for forming the fastening for the lower hoop. The clasp, after being partially formed as before, is put upon the hoop with this mortise at the top of it, and the tape is passed through this mortise and extended round under the hoop and passed out over the edge of the clasp, as shown in Fig. 4.

The modifications I have described enable me to properly clasp the tape upon each hoop, and furnishes for each of the positions a substantial and durable fastening.

I claim as my invention-- The mortised clasp, constructed as described, in combination with the tapes and hoops of the ladies skirt, substantially as set forth.

SAML. S. SHERWOOD. *itnesses:

vL. A. ROBERTS,

H. J AMES WESTON. 

